Sfdebris.net

This is something I've been thinking about for a while.

From the NYT's review of David Frum's Trumpocalypse:

But Frum’s boldest proposal involves policy, not governmental structure, and it goes back to the notion that too many Americans — Trump supporters, mostly — see government benefits going to the “wrong” people. He proposes a political trade: a severe tightening of immigration rules in return for the passage of much-needed social and climate legislation — a comprehensive national health care system, a carbon tax (that would include products imported from polluters like China and India). “If Democrats want to perpetuate their health care reforms, they must do a better job of solidifying a sense of national belonging. If Republicans want to safeguard the border, they must offer a better deal to those living on that border’s American side.”

I'm not endorsing this position; in all honesty I can't help but feel I'm hopping off the slippery slope of "Win at all Costs" here. On the other hand, it does seem like it would be fairly effective. The New Deal Coalition compromised with segregationists and created social security. Many of the broke working class people who want greater protections and welfare don't care about people they see as foreigner, if they are positive at all. Working class people who bitch about how "Mexicans are stealing our jobs!" have no love for rich. Only the system where the options are Welfare & Immigrants or Capitalism & Border Security is creating this situation.

Or have I fallen in a nihilistic hole?

Meet me in the middle, says the unjust man. You take one step forward, he takes one step back. Meet me in the middle, says the unjust man.

TGLS wrote: ↑Fri Jun 05, 2020 4:45 pmOr have I fallen in a nihilistic hole?

No, you've just seen someone understanding, that a lot of the problems in the society and voting behaviour directly results from where in their life the people feel they are. If you are struggling to make ends meet, sleep in your car while working 3 jobs, then an illegal immigrant taking one of those jobs, because he somehow can live with 1 Dollar less than you (probably because he doesn't have a car and sleeps in a shelter), then is it really hard to understand that this person is going to vote for a party that promises to crack down on that?

If you want society to improve, you need to make sure that everyone has access to education, enough time to do that and a decent enough life. Sure, you won't get through to everyone, but over time, things will improve.

Speaking as someone on the conservative side of the fence, but frequently on the fence about Trump, I'm not sure how much it applies to me. Government benefits going to the wrong people isn't a driving force for me. Yes, the governor of California has decided that illegal immigrants are going to get government money during the Covid shutdown, and it annoys me that now some of my tax money will go to trespassers, but it doesn't keep me up at night.

There might be something to the plan, regardless of the motivation. Statistically, a lot of Obama voters are likely Trump voters, too ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Obama-Trump_voters ), and the voters may not be as divided as the politicians.

It's actually our money.